A COMMUNITY against a school being built on Mapledurham Playing Fields (MPF) accused council contractors of flouting health and safety rules.

Work is being done on the playing fields to investigate the state of the ground. It involves digging up to 30 trenches across the site.

It comes after Reading Borough Council approved the area and the most suitable permanent location for The Heights Free School.

Work at the site began last week and campaigner Martin Brommell said there needs to be improved safety measures.

He said: "As someone who visits MPF daily to walk my small dog, I wish to complain in the strongest possible terms at the lack of safety barriers which meant that anyone entering MPF from Hewett Avenue today (Monday) risked falling straight into the trench.

"This applies to adults, children and dogs.

"It seems that any work being carried out on MPF does not merit the usual safety standards applied to other similar works across the borough.

"An example of this is the workmen who dug two exploratory holes near the children's play area and basket ball pitch last week. When they left site, they simply left mounds of dirt after finishing their excavation. Again, no safety measures taken and the ground has not been restored to exactly the same condition it was in when they started work. It remains a safety hazard to young children and their parents."

Reading Borough Council rejected Mr Brommell's accusations, insisting contractors are working to strict health and safety guidelines.

However, a council spokesman revealed extra measures will be taken from now on.

They added: "The archaeology trenches are being dug by a very experienced and respected archaeology company (Oxford Archaeology) following their standard practices and health and safety guidelines.

"At the time these photographs were taken, the first trench was in the process of being dug with a site supervisor present, alongside an archaeologist, acting as a safety marshal.

"After the trench was dug and staff were no longer directly monitoring the trench, netting was put around the area as a safety precaution.

"On the Council’s instruction Oxford Archaeology are now erecting barrier netting around work areas before trenches are dug as a further precaution."